bring (one) up short
To cause one to abruptly stop doing something. The sudden blaring of the alarm brought me up short on my way down the hall. News of the reduction in funding brought our researchers up short.
bring (or pull) someone up short
make someone check or pause abruptly.bring/pull somebody up ˈshort
make somebody stop what they are doing because something attracts their attention or because they suddenly realize something: His criticism of my work pulled me up short, because I thought he was pleased with it.